"The frittura, Gasparino, the frittura! And then the tarantella, and then 'O sole mio'!"
He looked towards the rising sun, and began to sing at the top of his voice:
"O sole, o sole mio,
Sta 'n fronte a te,
Sta 'n fronte a te!"
Gaspare joined in lustily, and Carmela in the doorway of the Caffè Berardi waved a frying-pan at them in time to the music.
"Per Dio, Gaspare!" exclaimed Maurice, as they raced towards the house, each striving to be first there—"Per Dio, I never knew what life was till I came to Sicily! I never knew what happiness was till this morning!"
"The frittura! The frittura!" shouted Gaspare. "I'll be first!"
Neck and neck they reached the caffè as Nito poured the shining fish into Madre Carmela's frying-pan.
VIII
"They are coming, signora, they are coming! Don't you hear them?"